34 tribals among 50 killed in naxal attack

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Mar 15 (UNI) Sixteen personnel of the Chhattisgarh Special Armed Force and 34 special police officers (SPOs) -- local youth recruited to assist the forces -- were among those killed in a Maoist attack on Dantewada district's Ranibodli camp in the wee hours today.

Official sources said that eight SPOs and four CSAF personnel, including a company commander, were injured. They were provided first aid at a hospital at Kutru and are being shifted to a hospital at Bijapur.

Ten of the injured sustained severe burns as the naxals used petrol bombs.

Ever since the rebels stepped up violence in tribal Bastar region, SPOs have been soft targets. These SPOs, who undergo training to handle weapons, assist the security personnel in patrolling and other operations in the sprawling shrub forests and Bastar's hilly terrain.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports suggested more casualities but senior civil and police officials were yet to confirm the total number.

UNI